Perhaps. The new Executive Order signed yesterday by Trump basically tells the FAA to "get off the BVLOS pot", but what does that mean for hobbyists?
As currently written, these new rules (supposedly called Part 108) are directed at the commercial side of things. But as with all 107 regs, they are likely to filter down to the recreational world at some point.
Pure, 100% unadulterated speculation here. This E.O. and it's directive on BVLOS won't have any benefit for hobbyists. The driving force is businesses such as Amazon, UPS and the like.
Incorrect. As someone who has sat on committees with the likes of Amazon and Wing, and still speak to them on occasion at conferences, they do not want exclusivity of the NAS. There needs to be some sort of Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) system in the U.S. But that doesn't mean 107 or 44809 flyers will have the onus on them to see and avoid.
Licensed pilots under 107 may get some relief but it most likely will require filing for approval from the FAA to use BVLOS for specific flights, rather than cart blanch approval.
This is definitely wrong. The NPRM will have a layered approach. There will be a carveout for long range BVLOS (delivery, inspection, etc.), which will be more hands on from the FAA. But 107 will have their own carve out as well. This will be for flights called Extended VLOS (EVLOS) in the BVLOS Aviation Rulemaking Committee's (ARC) report. As such, 107 Pilots will be given the ability to fly a certain distance (BVLOS ARC defines EVLOS as 3 miles) with more mitigations than standard VLOS flights, but it won't be tied to specific flights.
For instance, if you take a look at my BVLOS waiver (
https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/107W-2023-03096_Victor_Moss_CoW.pdf), you'll see it is for all of the NAS, and up to 2 miles. I only asked for two miles, because that's what I'm comfortable with. I disagree with the BVLOS ARC's 3 mile definition.
Such is the way of government who generally fight to relinquish any controls unless forced to. Too bad, as many hobbyists (self included) were getting their hopes up.
This is a defeatist attitude. I can understand it to a point, but the FAA is doing just the opposite of being forced to give up control. Many inside the FAA are fighting to give us more and more freedom in the air. They are pro-drone. But the FAA moves at a glacial speed. And they freely admit it.
This can be frustratingly slow, but it's getting better.
So no, we should look at this EO as a great step forward, and the start of a loosened regulatory environment. We still have a ways to go, and we need to keep an eye on some of the sections of both EOs, but it's an overall positive set of EOs for this industry, whether flying under 107 or 44809.
